For a column titled “Life Together,” and this being my first time writing for this column, I find it only appropriate to spend a bit of time introducing myself to the Muscatine community.

My name is Willie Rosin, and I go by a several different titles – Pastor Willie, the band director’s husband, and my favorite, dad. We moved to Muscatine back in July of 2021 after my wife, Jennifer, accepted the offer to teach seventh and eighth grade band at Susan Clark Junior High in Muscatine. We are the parents of five children – Grace (18), Belle (16), Lydia (eight), Ezra (four), and Abner (four). We have thoroughly enjoyed our short time getting know the community and surrounding area of Muscatine.

I am a South Dakota native who met an Iowa girl in the music department of South Dakota State University over 20 years ago. During our 19 years of marriage, we have lived in Hampton, Iowa, then in Montevideo, Minnesota, then back to Britt, Iowa before moving to this part of the state. I am passionate about forming healthy and life-giving relationships wherever God calls me to serve, immersing myself in the community as I serve as a pastor not only to the congregation to which I am called, but also to the community itself as a public faith leader. Jen and I are passionate about parenting with five kids, having grown our family, both biologically and through the process of adoption, multiple times.

In addition to ministry and parenting, we are also a family of music geeks. My undergraduate degree is in music education with a saxophone emphasis. Jennifer is a gifted teacher and musician and our children have developed a love of music as well. I love reading, gardening, cooking, baking, hunting, fishing, meat processing, shooting, and reloading in all of my spare time.

I am in my 12th year of ordained ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and have served the congregations of Saron and Baxter Lutheran Churches near Montevideo, Minnesota, First Lutheran Church in Britt, Iowa, a short interim from August to December of 2021 with St. James Lutheran in Bettendorf, Iowa, and started serving in ministry with Zion Lutheran Church in Muscatine on Dec. 12, 2021. I look forward to learning about the community of Muscatine and the surrounding area as I continue to grow in relationship with the people here. I look forward to finding out what God is up to in this community as I work with my colleagues in the Muscatine Ministerial Association and the Zion congregation. Please do not hesitate to stop in to introduce yourself, as I firmly believe that we are created for relationship with one another and this happens primarily through face to face conversation and experience.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our short time in Muscatine thus far and look forward to serving in God’s kingdom with all of you for as long as the Spirit calls me to serve in this place.

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Willie Rosin